The subtlethe

Unveiling
Breaking
Unlocking
Europatat and
the
science
layers
ground
potential
coalition
unveils of
Gnal
in
of
call
of the
for
potassium
regenerative
biofumigation:
humble
reevaluation
program spud:
and of
application:
agriculture:
A
Scientists
Plant
speakers
new mustard
for
Enhancing
Promises
hybrid
explore
Reproductive
2024 Congress
offers
ways
andto
potato quality
challenges
natural
climate-proof
Material disease
withouthope
control
potatoes
legislation dueto
compromising
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to concerns
growers
yield disease
over
spread 

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North America Editor &

Publisher: Lukie
Pieterse

The subtle
science of
potassium
:
 application:
Enhancing potato
quality without
compromising
yield
Feel free to get in
Sarah Light and her team
touch with Lukie!
studied how potassium chloride
He’ll be happy to share
application timing affects
potatoes, ;nding that fall
your company’s news

applications don’t increase plant stories on Potato

chloride and may reduce News Today:
chloride accumulation since it lukie@potatonewstoday.com
leaches below the root zone. Connect on LinkedIn
Their research indicates no Follow on Twitter
signi;cant impact on nitrogen About us
levels, yield, or tuber speci;c
gravity, regardless of fertilizer
timing. The study, funded by the LOCKWOOD Mfg
USDA’s National Institute of
Food and Agriculture,
contributes to optimizing
fertilizer use in agriculture.

Re a d M o re

April 21, 2024

PULSEMASTER

Unveiling the
:
 layers of
regenerative
agriculture:
Promises and
challenges
FPS Food
Regenerative agriculture, Process
focusing on soil health and Solutions
reduced synthetic input reliance
through diverse cover crops, is
gaining attention. Andrew
McGuire of CSANR critically
analyzes its principles and claims
in his article, distinguishing it
from sustainable agriculture. Its
promise and practicality are
debated, with success stories
tempered by research on AVR
widespread implementability.
McGuire is inspired by Gabe
Brown, a prominent ;gure in the
movement.

Re a d M o re

April 21, 2024

TOMRA FOOD

Breaking ground
:
 in biofumigation:
A new mustard
hybrid oMers
natural disease
control hope to
DORMFRESH |
potato growers 1,4GROUP
The potato industry in Canada
could majorly bene;t from AAC
Guard, a new mustard hybrid
acting as an effective
biofumigant against verticillium
wilt and nematodes. As chemical
pesticides face deregistration,
this natural solution, born of
conventional breeding by
CROP.ZONE
Mustard 21 Canada and partners,
offers an alternative. Its high
glucosinolate levels are key in
suppressing various pathogens.
Though limited in 2024,
increased seed availability is
anticipated for 2025, promising
a sustainable disease
management strategy.
VOLM
Re a d M o re
COMPANIES

April 20, 2024

:
 ‘A fry above the
rest’: McCain
Foods celebrated
as McDonald’s
Top Global
GRIMME
Supplier of 2024
At the 2024 Worldwide
Convention, McCain Foods was
awarded McDonald’s Global
Supplier of the Year out of over
3,000 suppliers for outstanding
food safety, quality,
sustainability, and supply chain
innovation. Celebrating a
partnership since 1977, this
accolade commends their
shared standards in global food
service and commitment to
excellence. McCain’s dedication
to sustainable potato supply and
enhancing McDonald’s offerings
is recognized, promising future
innovations in the fast-food
sector.

Re a d M o re

April 19, 2024

:
 Senators want
more access to
Japan for U.S.
fresh potatoes
During Japanese Prime Minister
Kishida’s visit to the U.S., a
bipartisan group of senators
urged President Biden to
pressure Japan for U.S. fresh
potato market access. National
Potato Council’s CEO noted a
heightened push over the past
;ve years, despite Japan’s
inaction. Senators saw the visit
as a chance to intensify
negotiations, a goal pursued for
over three decades.

Re a d M o re

April 19, 2024

Study predicts
signi\cant future
decline in potato
yields on Prince
:
 Edward Island
due to climate
change
Researchers from the University
of Prince Edward Island predict
signi;cant declines in potato
yields due to climate change.
Published in the journal Foods,
the study forecasts a 6-10%
decrease in yields under low-
emission scenarios, and up to a
60% drop by the 2070s under
high emissions, possibly
reaching an 80% reduction by
the 2090s. The study underlines
temperature increases and
variable precipitation as major
factors affecting growth and
urges the implementation of
adaptation strategies.

Re a d M o re

April 18, 2024

Win big this

spring: The Little
Potato Company
:
 debuts \rst-ever
in-store and
online
sweepstakes
The Little Potato Company
launches “The Little Springtime
Campaign and Sweepstakes”
with a chance to win $1,000 in
groceries until May 15, 2024.
Open to consumers in the U.S.
and Canada, the campaign aims
to promote its convenient, no-
prep-required Little Potatoes.
Supported by in-store, social
media, and paid online ads, the
initiative seeks to enhance
family meals and highlight spring
recipes.

Re a d M o re

April 17, 2024

Potato
Sustainability
Alliance
welcomes new
:
 member
companies and
grower
associates
The Potato Sustainability
Alliance has introduced a new
Grower Associate category, and
welcomed the Soil Health
Institute, Walther Farms and
DeGroot’s Vegetable Farms as
members. PSA, having worked
for 12 years on potato
sustainability, provides a
platform for all value chain
actors to craft sustainability
standards, and encourages more
members to join at
potatosustainability.org. The
new members contribute efforts
towards soil health and
diversi;ed vegetable farming.

Re a d M o re

April 16, 2024

Prince Edward
Island potato
:
 farmers gear up
for planting
season despite
challenges
As spring nears, P.E.I. farmers in
Canada prepare for planting
amid challenges like erratic
weather, high costs for fertilizer
and fuel, and a shortage of
skilled labor to handle advanced
machinery, as reported by CBC’s
Sheehan Desjardins. Rising
supply costs and an uncertain
climate impact planning, yet
farmers are optimistic,
diversifying crops, seeking
alternatives to costly inputs, and
training recruits to surmount
these hurdles for a successful
planting season.

Re a d M o re

April 12, 2024

1,4GROUP
reinforces North
:
 American potato
industry: Shifts
CIPC production
to the U.S.
1,4GROUP has relocated
chlorpropham production to the
US following its European ban,
ensuring supply for North
American customers. The EPA
and PMRA have approved the
new US production site,
maintaining the availability of
this crucial sprout inhibitor. CEO
Elfering expresses gratitude to
the agencies and reaf;rms
commitment to quality products
for the potato industry.

Re a d M o re

April 9, 2024

Kayla Spawton
spearheads
groundbreaking
work at U of I’s
:
 state-of-the-art
seed potato
facility
Kayla Spawton leads the
University of Idaho’s Seed
Potato Germplasm Program,
critical to Idaho’s key industry,
with 60% of U.S. potatoes
traceable back to their lab. The
state’s largest crop earned $1.3
billion in 2023. Spawton, a plant
pathology Ph.D., manages a
state-of-the-art facility, focusing
on disease-free potato plantlet
and mini-tuber production. Her
plans include ef;ciency research
and implementing cryogenic
preservation to advance the
program.

Re a d M o re

April 9, 2024

Senators rally to
defend the
potato’s
:
 vegetable status
amid USDA and
HHS
reclassi\cation
debate
A bipartisan group of 14 US
Senators opposes reclassifying
potatoes as grains in the next
Dietary Guidelines. In a letter to
the USDA and HHS, they
highlight potatoes’ nutritional
value and historical vegetable
status. The potential change
could confuse consumers,
disrupt industries, and adversely
impact federal nutrition
programs. The senators insist
potatoes remain classi;ed as
vegetables, emphasizing the
decision’s broad implications.

Re a d M o re

March 30, 2024

FPS Food
Process
:
 Solutions and
partners lead
potato
processing
innovation at
Food Northwest
Expo
FPS Food Process Solutions will
display its comprehensive
potato processing technologies
at the Food Northwest Expo in
Portland. Their alliance with
OptiCept Technologies
strengthens their market
position by integrating PEF
technology, enhancing ef;ciency
in potato processing. Attendees
are invited to visit Booth 1037
for pioneering solutions that
combine innovation, ef;ciency,
and quality.

Re a d M o re

March 29, 2024

Unlocking the
:
 future of
agriculture:
Researchers
describe
breakthrough
techniques in
cryopreservation
in new e-book
Dr. Gayle Volk of the USDA-ARS
and colleagues have published
an e-book offering
comprehensive guidance on the
cryopreservation of clonally
propagated plants, a key for food
security. With detailed public
content, including protocols and
videos, it introduces methods
like shoot tip cryotherapy for
pathogen eradication in crops.
This work holds promise for
sustainable and disease-free
agriculture, particularly in staple
crops like potatoes.

Re a d M o re

March 27, 2024

:
 Maximizing
potato yields
with CropSil: A
new era in plant
nutrition
Nuviatec’s CropSil product is a
breakthrough biostimulant for
North American potato farmers,
offering improved growth, yield,
and resistance to pests,
diseases, and environmental
stresses. This patented mono-
silicic acid Si(OH)4 formulation
ensures nutrient absorption and
optimizes total plant health.
Rigorous research con;rms its
bene;ts, supporting resilient and
sustainable agriculture. Farmers
utilizing CropSil report higher-
quality crops with reduced input
costs, fostering a more eco-
friendly approach to potato
farming.

Re a d M o re

March 26, 2024

:
 Rethinking soil
fumigation: A
new study
explores its
impact on
agricultural
sustainability
Researchers from the University
of Wisconsin-Madison studied
the effects of soil fumigation on
agricultural sustainability,
focusing on potato ;elds in
Wisconsin. The study, which
analyzed various indicators of
soil health, found that
fumigation’s impact varies
signi;cantly by soil type,
enhancing outcomes in sandy
soils but not in loamy soils. The
research, published in Field
Crops Research, emphasizes the
role of soil microbial diversity in
agricultural productivity and
calls for tailored soil
management practices to
support sustainable agriculture.

Re a d M o re

March 25, 2024

:
 Bayer pilots
unique
generative AI tool
for agriculture
Bayer has launched a pilot for a
GenAI system, developed with
proprietary data and validated by
agronomists, to rapidly provide
expert agronomic advice. A
collaborative effort with
Microsoft and EY, this tool offers
a quicker response to farmers’
queries compared to current
methods. It aims to enhance
product development,
democratize agronomic
knowledge, and improve global
food security. Bayer plans to
widen the pilot to more users,
including direct queries on farm
data.

Re a d M o re

March 22, 2024

:
 MSU’s pioneering
diploid potato
project backs
research into
new way of
breeding
potatoes
About a decade ago, Michigan
State University’s professor
Dave Douches, launched the
SolCAP initiative, funded by the
USDA NIFA, focusing on potato
and tomato crop improvements.
He spearheaded a shift towards
breeding diploid potatoes, which
have two sets of chromosomes,
enabling easier gene editing and
rapid genetic progress. With
Project GREEEN’s support, his
efforts include developing self-
compatible diploid potatoes and
enhancing pest resistance, such
as against the Colorado potato
beetle.

Re a d M o re

March 20, 2024

:
 Innovative
harvesting: John
Deere’s
electri\cation
kits propel
potato farming
forward
John Deere has unveiled a
transformative technology for
potato harvesting highlighted in
their video, “Power Offboarding
Brings Precision to Potato
Harvesting.” This innovation
targets the challenges of potato
farming in Maine, such as stony
soil. The introduction of an
electri;cation kit allows for
independent control of the
cleaning fan, enhancing harvest
ef;ciency and adaptability. The
video underlines a new era in
agricultural innovation that could
increase pro;tability and
ef;ciency for farmers.

Re a d M o re

March 17, 2024

:
 Navigating global
markets:
1,4GROUP
secures import
tolerance for
1,4SIGHT in
Japan
On March 4, 2024, Japan’s
MHLW established a new 15ppm
maximum residue level for 1,4-
DMN in potatoes, deemed safe
for health. This revision is
expected to boost the
international potato trade and
improve storage methods.
1,4GROUP is ensuring the
integration of 1,4SIGHT into
partner operations, enhancing
the industry’s future.

Re a d M o re

March 15, 2024

American
farmlands face
:
 crisis: Soil
erosion outpaces
regeneration
Mihai Andrei’s ZME Science
article reports severe soil
erosion in the US Midwest,
exacerbated by agriculture, with
losses up to 1,000 times the rate
of natural replenishment.
Highlighting a critical threat to
food sustainability, Andrei
emphasizes the urgency for
sustainable farming practices,
like no-till methods and cover
cropping. He urges action from
policymakers, researchers, and
consumers to preserve topsoil
and ensure long-term food
security.

Re a d M o re

March 14, 2024

‘Behind the
scenes of
crunch’: Sackett
:
 Ranch utilizes
TOMRA sorters
to achieve
premium potato
chip production
The Sackett family, potato
farmers since 1905, have
upgraded their Michigan farm
with TOMRA 3A and 5A sorters.
These machines improve quality,
meeting stringent U.S. potato
chip industry standards by
ef;ciently sorting harvests and
signi;cantly reducing unwanted
material. The technology has
also simpli;ed labor demands,
increased processing time, and
enhanced overall customer
satisfaction, with nearly 90%
elimination of foreign materials.

Re a d M o re

March 14, 2024

The digital eye in

potato breeding:
:
 How machine
vision is shaping
the future of
spuds
A team of U.S. scientists
published an innovative cost-
effective phenotyping strategy
to improve potato breeding in
the Plant Phenome Journal. This
scalable, machine vision
technology assesses size, shape,
and color of potatoes with high
precision, streamlining the
breeding process. This AI-driven
method, also capable of
detecting defects and inferring
weight, offers a new approach to
selecting and cultivating
superior potato varieties,
signi;cantly advancing the ;eld.

Re a d M o re

March 13, 2024

DieMenbach’s
Potato Chips
:
 celebrates 25
million pounds of
‘rescued’
potatoes
Dieffenbach’s Potato Chips Inc.’s
Uglies Kettle Chips brand has
transformed 25 million pounds
of “ugly potatoes” into snacks,
tackling the issue of produce
rejected on aesthetics. Since
starting in 2017, Uglies Kettle
Chips has been positively
impacting farmers and the
community, promoting
sustainability by repurposing
otherwise discarded potatoes,
as celebrated by the company’s
VP, Dwight Zimmerman.

Re a d M o re

March 11, 2024

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